The Forgotten Legion - Kane Ben - Страница 59

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'Just a moment.' He adjusted his toga. 'Guard! Get out here!'

'What are you doing, Master?' Romulus said warily.

'He will take you apart, slave. Teach you to respect your betters.'

Suddenly Brennus straightened, towering over the other. Cold eyes glinted in dim light, a vein bulged in his neck. 'Don't do that,' he said.

Tension became palpable.

'Another slave?' Caelius looked round for the doorman. 'What will you do?'

'I am no slave.'

Romulus was stunned by his friend's words. They meant instant death. His efforts to win the Gaul over had obviously taken seed. But now was not the time. Better to take a beating.

'What did you say?' Caelius spat.

Romulus had opened his mouth to speak when Brennus punched the angry noble in the belly. Caelius went down like a sack of lead, mouth open wide with shock.

Heart racing, Romulus moved closer. 'Let's go!' he hissed.

'What in Jupiter's name is going on?' A slave nearly as big as Macro appeared in the doorway. 'Who called?'

Caelius tried to speak, but a hefty kick from Brennus sent him sprawling deeper into the gutter.

'This fellow just bumped into me. Seems to have had too much wine,' Brennus said, smoothing down his tunic. 'We were coming to visit your beautiful ladies.'

Confused, the doorman gaped at Brennus, then at Caelius. Something did not quite fit.

'Wait a moment,' he growled. At last it sank in. 'You're a gladiator! That famous Gaul!'

'Come on,' urged Romulus. There was still time to flee.

'Caelius! Caelius!' The noble 's friends had finally seen what was happening. They came running to his aid.

'Take those rogues into custody!' screeched one.

Brennus' blood was up. 'Know who I am?' he bellowed. 'Don't even think of touching me.'

The guard hesitated, but then the pretence failed. 'Party's over,' he said, reaching for the cudgel on his belt. 'You're a slave like me.'

'Seize him!' yelled an equestrian.

'Ignore those bastards. Let us go,' Romulus urged.

'Huh?' the doorman replied uncertainly. 'But . . .'

'What do you care about bloody patricians?'

'I have to obey.'

'Says who?' Romulus cried. 'Make your own choice!'

'Come on,' said Brennus. 'Join us!'

'Make a run for it!'

'I'd be killed.' Fear filled the slave 's eyes and he drew the club. 'Just give in. With luck you'll only get a beating.'

Romulus' heart sank. The equestrians were nearly on them, all chance of escape gone. Their night out was over.

'No one is laying a hand on me, by Belenus!' Brennus roared, the wine coursing through him. 'I am a free man!'

'What else can we do?' Romulus had meant to flee the scene, not fight. 'They're nobles.'

'Kill a few!'

'No, you idiot!' This was not how he saw things happening. Outside a brothel was no place to start a rebellion.

But it was too late.

Brennus grabbed the doorman by the tunic, delivering an almighty head-butt. With blood pumping from a smashed nose, the hulk reeled away in agony, clutching his face with both hands. The Gaul seized him by the shoulder and leather belt and, with a great heave, threw the man headlong back into the building.

'Turn around, slave!'

Romulus spun quickly.

Covered in mud, Caelius was only five paces away, dagger in hand. He was flanked by his friends, similarly armed.

'Thought patricians didn't carry weapons?' Romulus answered, anger rising. His gladius slid from the scabbard.

'They're useful for killing scum,' snarled Caelius, lunging forward.

Romulus dodged the drunken move easily as Brennus swept in from the left and poleaxed the equestrian for the third time.

'You were right,' the Gaul said to Romulus, grinning. 'Try not to kill any, or they'll crucify us for sure!'

Pleased by Brennus' restraint, he barely had time to nod. Caelius' companions attacked in a wave of swinging knives and flapping togas, but Romulus was less intoxicated than the nobles. It was easy to smash the hilt of his sword into the swarm of frenzied faces. He swept the blade 's flat edge at any who came too close and they retreated, wary of his blade. Facing down six armed men was an exhilarating feeling.

Romulus felt something pulling on his tunic. It was Caelius. Instinctively he cracked the patrician on the head, seeing him slump unconscious to the dirt from the corner of his eye.

He and Brennus held the group at bay for some time. They batted away drunken thrusts, laughing at how easy it was. Their enemies cursed and spat with rage, but were unable to get within knife range.

The stalemate was not to last. Attracted by the commotion, five slaves came charging out, swords and cudgels in hand. One was a bodyguard, but the rest looked like unfit kitchen workers. It seemed brothels did not need more than two professional doormen.

'Time to leave.' Brennus slammed one of the fatter men against the wall, then landed a punch in his solar plexus. He toppled to the ground with a groan.

'Fighting retreat, eh?' Finally the Gaul drew his longsword.

'About time,' Romulus snapped.

The pair moved closer, edging into the centre of the street, weapons held threateningly in front. 'Stay where you are!' roared Brennus. 'Next man who comes near gets gutted.'

The slaves held back, reluctant to risk injury or death in a fight that wasn't theirs. Three figures were already lying prone in the mud. Sensing the fight was lost, the nobles still standing made obscene gestures at the fighters.

'Run for it!' Brennus sheathed his sword. 'Back to the ludus damn quick.'

A cry from the brothel followed into the darkness.

'Murder!' A portly figure stooped over the redheaded man. 'They have killed Caelius!'

'An equestrian has been killed!'

'It was the boy! I saw him,' cried another. 'Send for the lictor and his guards!'

'Gods above,' Brennus wheezed. 'What have you done?'

'Me? Nothing,' yelled Romulus. 'You should have just let me take the beating.'

'Couldn't do that. I owe you, remember?'

'Thanks. But save it for when I really need you.'

'It was his arrogance!'

Romulus chuckled knowingly.

'And the wine,' admitted the Gaul. 'But you put the idea in my head.'

'Not the best way to start a rebellion, Brennus.'

His friend's face turned sheepish. 'So what did you kill him for?'

'I didn't!' Romulus took one last despairing look at the chaos behind. 'Belted him across the head, but it wasn't enough to kill.'

'You must have cracked his skull then,' said Brennus. 'It is easily done.'

Inside the brothel, everyone had heard the racket. Fabiola was waiting in the anteroom beside reception when Vettius came flying through the door. He collided with a statue, bringing it to the floor with a crash. Alarmed, she ran out to find the doorman semi-conscious, blood pouring from his nose. Pieces of broken stone were scattered across the mosaic tiles. Clients stood by, looking horrified. The Lupanar was normally an island of calm in the dangerous city. A group of girls they had been eyeing up clung to each other nervously.

'Benignus!' Fabiola screeched. 'Get out here!'

'What's going on?' Jovina emerged from the corridor to the back, lips pursed.

'Don't know, Madam. Someone threw Vettius inside.' Fabiola risked a glance through the doorway. By the light of the torches, she could see two cloaked figures with swords fighting the men who had just left. 'Looks like thieves trying to rob those nobles.'

'Benignus!' Jovina spat a curse. 'Where is that brute?'

The second doorman appeared a few moments later, adjusting his tunic after a visit to relieve himself. 'Madam called?'

Jovina went bright red. 'My customers are being attacked out there. Get Catus and the others!'

Confused, Benignus finally took in Vettius lying prone, Fabiola kneeling close by and the clash of arms outside. He turned and sprinted down the corridor, yelling at the top of his voice.

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